Norway’s Bodo/Glimt produced another sensational performance in the UEFA Champions League, defeating Serie A leaders Inter Milan 3-1 in the first leg of the play-offs and taking a commanding advantage. Danish forward Kasper Høgh emerged as the star, contributing two assists and a goal to secure victory for the Norwegian side.
This victory marks only the second time a Norwegian club has beaten an Italian side in European competition. The first instance was in 1996 when Rosenborg overcame AC Milan.
Bodo/Glimt struck early at their home ground, taking the lead in the 20th minute. Høgh provided a stunning backheel pass to Sondre Brunstad Fet, who calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
However, Inter Milan responded swiftly, equalising ten minutes later. Pio Esposito, just 20 years old, received a through ball from Carlos Augusto, turned quickly inside the box, and fired past the goalkeeper. With this goal, Esposito became the youngest Italian to score for Inter in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
After the interval, Inter appeared to gain momentum. Lautaro Martínez hit the post with a powerful shot, and Augusto tested goalkeeper Nikita Haikin with a long-range strike. Yet the momentum soon swung back to the Norwegians.
In the 61st minute, a defensive lapse allowed Jens Petter Hauge to receive a chance from Høgh, lifting the ball elegantly over the goalkeeper into the net. Just three minutes later, Ole Didrik Blomberg delivered a perfect cross for Høgh, who scored his fourth goal of the Champions League season, extending the lead to 3-1.
Bodo/Glimt’s impressive form in this season’s tournament shows no signs of slowing. They previously defeated Manchester City 3-1 and later overcame Atlético Madrid 2-1 in the group stage, securing their spot in the play-offs and riding high on confidence.
Nevertheless, head coach Kjetil Knutsen remained measured after the match. Speaking to TV2, he said: “We didn’t play our best today. We weren’t fully in control of the ball or clearly ourselves. But we scored some extraordinary goals—that made the difference.”
For Inter, hope remains as the return leg looms. Midfielder Petar Šučić expressed optimism: “It was a tough night for us. But at home, we can win—we must keep believing.”
In the other Champions League play-off tie on the same day, Bayer Leverkusen defeated Olympiacos 2-0.
Bodo/Glimt vs Inter Milan: First Leg Summary
| Team | Goals | Scorers/Assists | Key Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodo/Glimt | 3 | Høgh (1 goal, 2 assists), Fet, Hauge | 20’ Fet goal, 61’ Hauge goal, 64’ Høgh goal |
| Inter Milan | 1 | Esposito | 30’ Esposito goal |
| Venue | Aspmyra Stadium, Bodo, Norway | ||
| Referee | – |
Bodo/Glimt’s remarkable win highlights the growing influence of Norwegian clubs in European competitions and sets the stage for an exciting return leg at San Siro next week.